Microsoft’s Power Platform is the essential suite of tools if you want to innovate using low-code and no-code solutions. After all, coding requires major expertise, and if you’re not versed in it — the Power Platform bridges the gap between a lack of coding knowledge and your ability to innovate.

With this, a host of new features and tools have become available recently within the Power Platform. These features are designed to further your ability to innovate using the applications within the Power Platform. They are some of the most cutting-edge low-code and no-code solutions available today and are especially focused on taking advantage of the new artificial intelligence tools that Microsoft has developed — namely Copilot.

In this article, we’re going to go over the key features of Microsoft’s Power Platform, as well as how you can take advantage of them within your own business to be able to take your productivity to the next level.

Overview of 2024 Release Wave 1 Updates

Power BI Enhancements

The first major change in 2024 is the transformation of Power BI into an aspect of Microsoft’s new Fabric data analysis suite. This is a massive change, as it puts Power BI into a wider data analytics platform with a unified data platform and enhanced AI capabilities powered by Microsoft Copilot.

This is the major enhancement for Power BI in the 2024 release schedule — the introduction of Microsoft Copilot and the integration of AI tools to transform how businesses handle data in the long run.

Power Apps Innovations

In Wave 1, Microsoft is focusing on bringing new Copilot and AI features to Power Apps and emphasising focus on the simplified creation of modern apps using natural language. The benefit of this speaks for itself — companies will be able to more easily create enriching applications with ease.

Power Pages Improvements

Power Pages is also getting a Copilot upgrade in Wave 1, with the ability to use Copilot throughout the site-building process. Ultimately, much like Power Apps, the aim here is to simplify the process and create a tool that can be used to make high-quality websites with ease — with security considerations as well.

Power Automate Updates

Power Automate is the next in line for the Copilot facelift in Wave 1, with the ability to use it across the cloud to easily create both cloud and desktop flows. The focus here is also on simplification, and the ability to take advantage of the full power of automation by using natural language.

Microsoft Copilot Studio Features

Copilot Studio is being provided with a host of new features such as an updated-looking set of Custom Copilots and a wider implementation of Copilots within Teams meetings and other Microsoft applications. Also, the ability to conversationally create custom Copilots is being implemented into public preview during this wave.

Overview of 2024 Release Wave 2 Updates

Further Power BI Enhancements

With Wave 2, Power BI is getting more features to bring it into the Microsoft Fabric platform. With the addition of Fabric Copilot, you’ll be able to work with data more easily and effectively — but with this comes the removal of quick-measure suggestions using Copilot.

On top of this comes a host of new charting features, including the ability to use visual calculations in combo charts. Altogether, this will mean that you can more easily work with charts and visualise lots of sets of data in the ways that work best for your business — giving you more flexibility all around.

Advanced Features in Power Apps

Power Apps is gaining new features such as the ability to restore deleted Data-verse table records, and a host of new grid features to efficiently handle and act on your data. These features are tailored towards more advanced users, providing a higher level of complex features for further customisation both when it comes to design and governance. On top of this, Power Pages will now allow companies to enable payments on websites, meaning merchants will be able to take advantage of Power Pages like never before.

New Capabilities in Power Pages

Power Pages is receiving several quality life updates in Wave 2, such as an enhanced file upload and the ability to disable external authentication providers, further refining Power Pages and making it easier to create a robust site.

Power Automate Enhancements

Power Automate is furthering its AI capabilities, with the ability to use Copilot to refine processes and ask important questions like about cloud flow and desktop flow activity. These AI features will give you further control over your automation and will let companies gain a better understanding of how to use automation to benefit their business.

Microsoft Copilot Studio Developments

Copilot Studio is receiving its own set of enhanced Copilot features, including a wider implementation of generative actions to be able to help you fully take advantage of the power of Copilot Studio. On top of this, Studio will be able to integrate with OpenAI GPTs and even newer channels like SMS and WhatsApp.

How These Updates Benefit Your Business

All of these updates for the Power Platform are greatly beneficial — between the implementation of artificial intelligence and the many quality-of-life and high-tier controls being added in the 2024 enhancements will make it far easier for your business to take advantage of the many benefits that the Power Platform will be able to offer.

Get started with the Power Platform

The new updates for the Power Platform in 2024 are designed to push your business’s potential to the next level, with both AI and other features being at the forefront. These features will help the Power Platform continue to be one of the most essential suites for businesses.

If you’re looking to get started with the Power Platform, reach out to us today. We’re here to help and will ensure that you have everything you need to hit the ground running — with full support along the way.

Get in touch now and see how we can help.